Pause Today and Remember all Who Perished on September 11, 2001

On November 11, 2001, former President George Bush said in a speech, "Time is passing. Yet, for the United States of America, there will be no forgetting September the 11th. We will remember every rescuer who died in honor. We will remember every family that lives in grief. We will remember the fire and ash, the last phone calls, the funerals of the children."

On September 11, 2001, 2749 people were murdered by foreign terrorists in New York City; Washington, D.C.; and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

19 terrorists hijacked four commercial airplanes carrying a total of 232 passengers in mid-flight.

At speeds of 440 mph and 540 mph they flew two of the planes loaded with 137 passengers and 18,835 gallons of jet fuel into the north and south towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, causing the buildings to catch fire and then collapse, killing thousands, including the brave men and women who came to rescue them and fell victims themselves.

A third plane carrying 58 passengers, 7500 gallons of fuel, and traveling at 530 mph was flown into the Pentagon building in Washington, D.C., destroying part of it.

A fourth plane carrying 37 people, 7000 gallons of fuel, and traveling at 560 mph crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. It is believed the terrorists who had seized control of the plane meant to fly it into the White House or the U.S. Capitol building but were thwarted in their efforts by the plane’s passengers, who were able to fight the terrorists and cause them to crash before reaching their objective.

We are a free society and those who attacked us sought to end that free society, to have us withdraw from the world and cower in fear.

What they did not expect was for police officers, firefighters and others to rush toward the carnage in order to try to save as many lives as possible. In doing so, many of them also became victims and the world’s heroes and heroines.

What they did not expect was to see neighborhoods suddenly became real communities, as people who may have never spoken to one another showed up on that day and for many days after at the homes of those who lost family members, relatives, friends and associates in the attacks. Neighbors tried to console neighbors, brought one another food, helped one another with tasks large and small-- all the things we Americans do when tragedy strikes our community or our nation.

What the attackers did not expect to see was many Americans gaining a renewed appreciation for being American, for having the rare and blessed opportunity to live in a free society.

America and Americans took an awful blow to the heart on 9/11, but in the midst of our pain, we again embraced the fact that freedom of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is worth fighting for.

If the victims of 9/11 could speak with one voice today, they might say: "Thank you for continuing to cradle us and our families in your thoughts and prayers. It means the world to us.”

And they might also say with one voice: “Your time here on earth is short. There are no guarantees. It should not require a massive tragedy like 9/11 to unify you. You are Americans and, as such, you should reach out to one another with kindness, helpfulness and understanding every day. That in itself will catch the attention of others around the world and lead them to demand and create societies that have no place for the haters of the world.”

City of North Myrtle Beach Offices and Facilities Open on Monday

SANITATION COLLECTION FOLLOWS REGULAR SCHEDULE

-- All City of North Myrtle Beach offices, recreation centers, and other facilities will be open for business on Monday.
-- Sanitation collection follows normal schedule.
-- If you enjoy a class at the J. Bryan Floyd Center or the Aquatic & Fitness Center, call in the morning to determine if they will be held. Some of the classes are taught by private individuals.

According to the National Weather Service, our area will experience these impacts from Hurricane Irma Monday into Tuesday:

-- Our part of the Carolinas will experience peripheral impacts between high pressure to our N & Irma to our S and SW including: gusty winds, some heavy rain, isolated tornadoes, and some coastal flooding.
-- Winds will become more onshore during Monday creating coastal flooding, especially with high tide around Noon and at midnight Tuesday morning.
-- The bulk of the impacts are expected during Monday and Monday night into early Tuesday morning before conditions improve during the day Tuesday.
-- The tornado risk will be greatest during Monday across all areas, and the risk will shift from our area into portions of Southeastern and Eastern NC during Tuesday morning.
-- Although weather conditions will gradually improve during Tuesday, the risk for dangerous surf and rip currents will persist through the upcoming week as swells from Hurricane Jose impact our coast. (While still swirling around out there, Hurricane Jose is not currently a threat to us.)

Source: City of North Myrtle Beach

Coastal Flood Outlook - September 10-12

National Weather Service Wilmington, NC

We use NWS Wilmington information because it includes northeastern South Carolina-- which includes North Myrtle Beach)

-- Potential for Coastal Flooding Increasing Each High Tide Sunday into Tuesday

OVERVIEW:

-- Ocean water piling up to and into low areas around the dunes is expected to develop. In addition, coastal flooding of other vulnerable low-lying areas along the coast is likely as the wind strengthens between the area of high pressure to the north and the peripheral circulation of Hurricane Irma.

TIMING:

-- The onshore wind that develops and increases Sunday, and especially Monday, will result in coastal flooding with inundation of 2-feet to 3-feet possible. Impacts will be greatest around times of high tide Sunday and peaking Monday/Monday night, possibly persisting into Tuesday.

IMPACTS:

-- Elevated water levels and large breaking waves in the surf will cause significant wave run-up and erosion along all area beaches. Inundation is especially likely in those coastal areas made vulnerable by Hurricane Matthew’s surge. Areas around some of the tidal creeks and bays may experience some inundation as well.
-- Northeasterly winds Sunday will turn nearly directly onshore Monday as Irma moves northward across Florida creating a fetch which will drive water toward the Carolina coastline and cause coastal flooding
-- Sunday late morning: Minor over-wash, Sunday late evening: Minor over-wash
-- Monday noon: Coastal flooding likely,
-- Tuesday midnight: Coastal flooding likely
-- Tuesday noon: Coastal flooding possible
-- Wed midnight: Minor over-wash possible

Hurricane IRMA Notice - September 8 - 8:00 P.M. No Evacuation

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has decided NOT to issue an evacuation order for Horry County.

He has issued a limited evacuation order for several barrier island locations in southern coastal South Carolina but he did not include lane reversals for major roadways as a part of his order. This allows people to travel freely in our state.

People who want to come to see us in North Myrtle Beach are free to do so, and they are free to move around the entire County.

That is good news but remember that these realities still exist:

• Hurricane Irma remains a very deadly storm.
• If Irma jogs to the east again, everyone from the Governor to local officials will revisit all protocols.
• Presently, it is likely that Irma will make a turn that brings across the Florida peninsula Saturday (Sept 9) night into Monday (Sept 11)
• A path across the Florida peninsula would mean less in the way of impacts for our part of the Carolinas, but it is very possible that we will see some impacts.
• Rainfall amounts of 2-inches to 5-inches are possible, with the higher amounts expected generally south of a Florence-to-Myrtle-Beach line. Some areas could receive flooding since some locations across northeastern South Carolina are 125% to 150% above normal rainfall over the last 14 days, and the ground is saturated.
• Minor coastal flooding is possible along area beaches with each high tide, beginning Sunday (Sept 10) morning, and subsequently with each high tide through Monday (Sept 11).
• Dangerous rip currents may continue through at least Tuesday (Sept 12).
  

Hurricane IRMA Update - September 8 - 3:00 P.M.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has delayed making a decision about evacuation orders ahead of Hurricane Irma until later today. The Governor and state officials would like to acquire more information about Hurricane Irma prior to making a decision.

The next update on the projected track for the hurricane will come from the National Hurricane Center at about 5:00 p.m. A final decision regarding evacuation may be made soon after that information becomes available, since the Governor currently intends to hold a news conference at 6:00 p.m.

Meanwhile, the accompanying graphic shows Hurricane Irma's projected track as of 2:00 p.m. today.

Source: City of North Myrtle Beach

Hurricane IRMA Notice - September 8 - 8:00 A.M.

As you can see from the accompanying graphic taken from the National Hurricane Center, tracking for Hurricane Irma, still very much a powerful and deadly storm, has moved to the west some and currently it appears that our area does not fall within the "cone of uncertainty."

We all know that there is no finality to tracking projections at this point, so simply complete your hurricane plan preparations and continue to monitor the forward progress of this storm.

Currently, the city of North Myrtle Beach Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is at Opcon 4, which means that EOC leaders continue to monitor this storm closely and converse with state and county emergency management leaders about probabilities and support.

All city personnel who would staff the EOC and those who would respond to emergencies on many different levels are prepared to begin their work shift rotations, should that become necessary.

 PLAN AHEAD

If you do not have a hurricane or disaster plan, we recommend that you visit www.ready.gov which offers good advice on how to prepare for a hurricane. The storm is still far enough out that you do have time to effectively prepare for it, should it head this way.

 KNOW YOUR "ZONE"

IF an evacuation is ordered in the future (none has been ordered at this time), the order will refer to Zones. If you are not familiar with the Zone in which you reside in Horry County or North Myrtle Beach, you can access the information via this link: https://tinyurl.com/y9nj6mlb If the link does not work for your, visit www.HorryCounty.org. 

Source: City of North Myrtle Beach

City of North Myrtle Beach Post-Hurricane Reentry Procedures

At this point in time an evacuation has NOT been ordered but as we ask you to prep for that possibility, depending on Irma's final track, it is only right that we also let you know the city's reentry procedures following a hurricane. They are as follows:

 -- The City of North Myrtle Beach does not require filing residency or business information prior to a storm.

 -- When reentering the city of North Myrtle Beach after a hurricane property owners, renters and business owners should be prepared to show reentry checkpoint personnel either their driver’s license, a copy of a recent water bill or property tax bill, a rental agreement, or other form of identity that proves residency or property ownership within the city.

 -- Owners of businesses with employees who do not reside within the city limits but are essential to recovery of a business should provide those employees with a letter written on company letterhead identifying them as being essential to the recovery of the business. When identifying an employee, please use their name as shown on their driver’s license so that authorities can match the two for verification.

 Be aware that these procedures apply only to the City of North Myrtle Beach. Other jurisdictions may have their own requirements.

 The City of North Myrtle Beach makes every effort to get its property owners back in as soon as possible following a hurricane because together we can all hasten recovery. However, reentry is completely dependent on the extent of damage that occurs from a hurricane. Our primary objectives following a storm are search and rescue, the identification and closure of hazardous areas, and the prevention of access to properties by those who have no business being there. Patience is always appreciated and helpful.

 The accompanying NOAA graphic shows the September 7, 11:00am projected track of Hurricane Irma. Again, don't concentrate only on the black dots. The potential remains for Irma to track anywhere within the cone or beyond.